Since returning to the Detroit Red Wings as general manager in 2019, Steve Yzerman has assembled one of the top prospect pools in the National Hockey League.
His first-round selections in the 2019 (Moritz Seider) and 2020 (Lucas Raymond) NHL Drafts have emerged as two of the best players in their respective draft classes and have become foundational building blocks for the organization.
Selecting with the 13th overall pick in 2025, Yzerman selected forward Carter Bear of the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips. Bear, who led the Silvertips with 40 goals and 82 points last season, continues to display the scoring touch that fans in Hockeytown hope that he'll eventually have in the Winged Wheel.
Bear recorded a hat trick in Everett’s recent 6–3 victory over the Kamloops Blazers, boosting his season totals to 23 goals and 48 points in 35 games.
Bear was signed by Yzerman to a three-year, entry-level contract shortly after being drafted, and he participated in Detroit's Development Camp in late June.
"A very intelligent hockey player, extremely competitive," Yzerman said of Bear in June. "At the junior level, he really can score. We think all of his game translates to the NHL as well."
Yzerman also expressed optimism that it wouldn't take long for Bear to endear himself to Red Wings fans when his NHL career eventually begins.
"I think our fan base will really take to him when the time comes that he is playing for the Red Wings, because he competes hard, and he’s a really good person. We are very excited about this pick. "
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In a lengthy interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Engels, Montreal Canadiens’ president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton discussed a lot of topics. Still, one was particularly interesting: the organization’s approach to the trade deadline.
While on the ice, the team has shown plenty of signs of progress despite being the youngest outfit in the league and overcoming subpar goaltending and numerous injuries, the Habs’ brass remains realistic. As Engels writes, Gorton and his partner in crime, Kent Hughes, are not under the illusion that adding a player or two at the trade deadline would launch their window of opportunities; they are not there yet.
This realistic, prudent approach is exactly why Geoff Molson made the right move by hiring the duo, and it stands in stark contrast to Marc Bergevin's past approach. Year after year, we heard the former GM say that once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen, and year after year, he went out to get some complementary pieces at the deadline.
It doesn’t mean they won’t be active at all. Gorton acknowledges that Hughes has his finger on the pulse and checks reported availabilities, adding that the duo spends a lot of time analyzing its next move. If they do make moves, they won’t be just for the now; the duo always has its objective of making the Canadiens a perennial contender at the forefront of their minds, as it should be.
Like the coach they’ve hired, Gorton and Hughes are very much of the “what’s next?” approach, and they’re not leaving anything to chance. Their recent moves have shown how they are thinking. They signed Alexandre Texier to a one-year contract initially, but extended his contract by two more years after he demonstrated his potential. They identified an issue with their penalty kill and a need for a left-shot center, so they went out and got Phillip Danault, without sacrificing too many assets, and it’s a good stop-gap option with another year on the contract of the soon-to-be 33-year-old.
The trade deadline may not be very exciting for Canadiens’ fans, but as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, and Montreal is already seeing some of those good things, but the best is yet to come.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (AP) — Grace VanSlooten recorded her fifth double-double of the season, Jalyn Brown scored 16 points and Rashunda Jones added 14 in No. 12 Michigan State’s come-from-behind 81-70 win over Penn State on Saturday afternoon.
VanSlooten was the leading scorer for the Spartans (20-4, 9-4 Big Ten), with 20 points and 14 rebounds. She shot 9 of 18 from the field. Kennedy Blair added 12 points.
Kiyomi McMiller scored a career-high 37 points for Penn State (8-16, 1-12) on 16 of 33 shooting. She was 3 of 4 from beyond the arc and 2 of 4 from the free throw line. Freshman Tea Cleante added 10 points for the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions took their largest lead of the game in the second quarter, up 45-29 off a 6-0 run. The Spartans scored the final two buckets of the half to cut the deficit to 45-33. After the break, Michigan State went on a 16-0 run to close out the third quarter and take a 54-52 lead, holding Penn State scoreless for over six minutes.
McMiller scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, but Michigan State led by double digits over the final three minutes.
Michigan State’s 16-point comeback is its largest since 2005, when the Spartans beat Tennessee 68-64 to advance to the national championship.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jayden Stone scored 22 points, Mark Mitchell added 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Missouri took down South Carolina, 78-59 on Saturday.
Stone was an efficient 7-for-9 shooting from the field (3 for 4 from deep), and Mitchell went 7 for 11 (1 for 2 from deep) for the Tigers (16-7, 6-4 Southeastern Conference). Mizzou was 25-for-54 shooting from the field overall.
T.O. Barrett added 14 points and seven rebounds, but struggled shooting (4 for 12).
The Tigers did not trail for the entire game, taking their first lead 37 seconds into the contest. They led 34-30 at halftime, and a 10-3 run to start the second half pushed their lead to double-digits.
Stone hit a 3-pointer with 7:17 remaining to start an 8-0 run that gave Mizzou a comfortable 15-point lead.
Meechie Johnson scored 13 points for the Gamecocks (11-13, 2-9), but was just 2-for-13 shooting from the field and 1 for 7 from beyond the arc. Kobe Knox and Elijah Strong each added 12 points, and Eli Ellis had 11.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Lamar Wilkerson made two free throws with 2.8 seconds left in overtime to lift Indiana to a 78-77 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday.
Wilkerson finished with 25 points, Sam Alexis added 19, Tucker DeVries 16 and Conor Enright 11 for Indiana (16-8, 7-6 Big Ten).
Nolan Winter had a career-high 26 points plus 12 rebounds to lead the Badgers (16-7, 8-4). Nick Boyd added 20 points, including five 3-pointers, and John Blackwell had 16 of his 18 points in the second half.
Wilkerson shot 1 for 7 in overtime but scored all six of Indiana's points in the extra period, four in the final 30 seconds after the Badgers had taken a 77-74 lead.
Wilkerson's bucket with 30 seconds left ended a 10-minute field-goal drought for the Hoosiers. Boyd was called for an offensive foul with 15.1 seconds left and Blackwell fouled Wilkerson as the latter tried to find an opening to the hoop. After Wilkerson's free throws, Braeden Carrington’s half-court heave wasn’t close.
Wilkerson finished 1 of 8 from the arc but made all eight of his free throws that came in the final minute of regulation and overtime.
Indiana led all of regulation until Blackwell hit a jumper for a 69-68 lead with 1:48 remaining. Winter followed with a 3-pointer but Wilkerson sank four free throws to tie the game at 72 and Blackwell missed a short jumper at the buzzer.
Indiana led by as many as 13 in the second half and were up 66-59 after an Alexis bucket with 5 1/2 minutes to go but then didn't a get another field goal until Wilkerson's bucket in overtime.
In a season filled with disappointment, it’s the ideal set of players who have provided the most positivity for the Vancouver Canucks; their rookies. Given the fact that this franchise’s future will likely be driven by a big chunk of these players, this can mean nothing but good things. If positive things keep going the way they have been for these Vancouver rookies, then the Canucks will be in good hands throughout the long-term future.
Linus Karlsson Has Been One Of The Biggest Surprises For The Canucks This Season
No Canuck has more 5-on-5 points than Linus Karlsson, who has scored nine goals and 11 assists in those situations. Despite bouncing around throughout Vancouver’s lineup this season, the forward has been one of the Canucks’ most consistent point producers, tallying a total of 11 goals and 13 assists. Karlsson’s play this season earned him a two-year contract extension, which he signed in January, as well as some looks on Vancouver’s first-unit power play. The forward is one who works his hardest and does what he needs to in order to find success at the NHL level.
Tom Willander Is Playing Himself Into A Future Top-4 Role
When Tom Willander made his NHL debut on October 28, many believed it’d be a one-off, and that he’d be back with the Abbotsford Canucks soon after. This isn’t a slight to Willander, but rather in consideration to his young professional career that only started this season. However, Willander has impressed so much that he’s played himself into a solid spot in Vancouver’s D-core, even serving as the quarterback on their first-unit power play for an extended period of time. While it was never a question in the first place, if anything, Willander’s play this season has only solidified the fact that he needs to be part of Vancouver’s future moving forward.
Liam Öhgren Sets The Canucks’ Pace
The Canucks received a valuable package of prospects and future potential when they traded Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild back in December. While Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium may have initially been the most noted names returning in the deal, Liam Öhgren has since proven himself as a big piece in this blockbuster deal. The forward’s no-quit motor and high-energy style of play has made him a mainstay in the lineup. The fact he’s been solid defensively doesn’t hurt, either. With connections throughout the organization and a positive first-impression, Öhgren’s first 26 games as a Canuck have gone excellently.
Jan 23, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Linus Karlsson (94) and defenseman Tom Willander (5) celebrate Karlsson’s goal against the New Jersey Devils in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Zeev Buium Has Shown The Potential To Become Vancouver’s Next Star On The Blueline
Buium’s time with the Canucks has been filled with promise. Offensively, the defenceman has shown great potential and has even been given a good chunk of power play minutes to try and elevate that. While the defensive side of his game could still use some work, this isn’t a bad thing. After all, Buium only just turned 20 at the start of December and is still in the midst of his first NHL season. If there’s any time for him to be making mistakes, it’s now. With more NHL playing time, Buium will be able to apply his experience towards fixing past mistakes — something that will ultimately impact his play for the better in the long run.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki Is Flashing His Goal-Scoring Skill
Jonathan Lekkerimäki got his first taste of NHL action last season, playing in 24 games and scoring three goals and three assists. Since then, it’s clear he took his experiences in the NHL and AHL and applied them to his game. A 10-goal run in 16 games with the Abbotsford Canucks brought Lekkerimäki back up to the NHL this season, where he’s played with the confidence and shot of a top-six sniper in the making. While it’s unclear how long he could be with the Canucks for this season, Lekkerimäki’s goal-scoring efforts have shown lots of promise for the future.
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Pep Guardiola has led the way with his tactics for a decade but he has changed course and Arsenal have taken advantage
Great rivalries are always more about feel than about numbers. There have been only four Premier League seasons in which Manchester City and Liverpool have finished in the top two positions in the table (and one of those occasions was 2013-14 when the managers were Manuel Pellegrini and Brendan Rodgers, which is not a duel anybody is writing books or making documentaries about).
Yet for most of the decade that Pep Guardiola has been at City, it has felt that English football was defined by his struggle with Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool, and by a form of the game that developed as each learned from the other.
This will be the last weekend without baseball, potentially until November, with Game 7 of the 2026 World Series scheduled for October 31. The Super Bowl is tomorrow (though we’re going to the RenFair), and football will then be done – mercifully, if you’re a Cardinals fan. The off-season is, effectively, over. So, before players start to show up at Salt River Fields next week, this is your change to say whatever you want. Be that about the Diamondbacks, baseball in general, or even random off-topicness. Though not too off-topic: the usual SnakePit prohibitions still remain in effect!
Open vent thread: Get it all out before pitchers and catchers report!
Have the Diamondbacks done enough? How thin ice are Torey Lovullo and Mike Hazen skating on this season? What is your go-to ballpark food and drink? Is the NL West a pointless procession to another Dodgers title? Why is Zac Gallen still unsigned? Has the way you watch baseball changed over the years? What’s your favorite baseball movie? Feel free answer absolutely none of these questions, and go your own way instead.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 2: Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards shoots a three point basket during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 2, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Brooklyn Nets today on the road in the Big Apple. Tip off is at 3 p.m. ET, basically, right now. Let’s see if the Wizards can take care of business today while we stay hunkered down at home with extreme wind and cold warnings outside in the DMV. Go Wizards!
What price Keith Andrews for manager of the season? Thomas Frank’s surprise successor certainly added to his fanclub as he choreographed Brentford’s fourth win in six Premier League games to leave Eddie Howe even gloomier than the unremittingly wet Tyneside weather.
While outstanding performances from Dango Ouattara and Keane Lewis-Potter left Andrews’s seventh-placed side appearing genuine European contenders, Howe’s Newcastle have won only one of their last eight matches in all competitions and lost four of their past five.
Sep 9, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals outfielder Terrance Gore (0) scores the go ahead run during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Terrance Gore, Royals postseason legend and three-time World Series champion, died last night. He was 34 years old. Gore is survived by his wife, Britney, and three children.
We are heartbroken from the loss of Terrance Gore, and send our love to his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/qgZFkHRFSx
Gore leaves behind an incredible baseball legacy as one of the greatest baserunning specialists of recent memory. Despite rarely coming to the plate, Gore stole 48 bases across the regular season and playoffs at an 82.7% success rate across his eight-year MLB career. But when playing for the Royals across their 2014 and 2015 campaigns, Gore was otherworldly: during those two years, he stole 12 bases and was only thrown out once. One of those stolen bases came in the best Royals game of all-time: the 2014 AL Wild Card Game.
Gore went on to become a postseason fixture with multiple other teams, lending his legs to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2020 World Series campaign as well as the Atlanta Braves’ 2021 World Series season.
But Gore is equally well known within the game for being a kind and wonderful human. Gore’s wife shared a post on Facebook about Gore, who passed away from complications after a routine surgery.
This post is extremely tough to write. Last night, I lost my best friend/husband from complications after what was supposed to have been a simple procedure. Our hearts are shattered, my babies are shattered. Our whole family is lost. This was so unexpected. Everything Zane does is centered around his dad. Baseball, hunting, fishing. Skylyn said, “I don’t have a daddy anymore, he’s up in heaven in the stars.” I don’t know where to go from here. I feel like I’m living my biggest nightmare and feel so lost. He loved his children with everything in him. He loved coaching the youth and those boys absolutely loved him. Please keep our family in your prayers for the coming days and for the strength to get through this. Life is precious and is too short. What I would do to give you one more hug or kiss. We had so many more memories to make. I love you forever Terrance Gore and I’ll continue to watch over our babies.
The 23-year-old, son of former Blues defenseman Jeff Finley (1998-2004), played in 22 games for the Lightning this season with three points (two goals, one assist). Jack was born in St. Louis in 2002.
Finley, a 6-foot-6, 227-pound forward, also had three points (one goal, two assists) in three games with Syracuse of the American Hockey League this season and has 84 points (40 goals, 44 assists) in 164 career AHL regular-season games.
Finley was drafted by the Lightning in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft and is in the first year of a three-year, $2.33 million ($775,000 average annual value) contract with this season being a two-way contract and the final two years a one-way.
Finley does not have to report to the Blues until on-ice activities resume following the Olympic break on Feb. 17.
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 24: Keshad Johnson #16 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 24, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Arizona alum Keshad Johnson will be joining Carter Bryant in this year’s NBA dunk contest, which now features two former Wildcats.
Both played under Tommy Lloyd, and both played for one season. Johnson transferred to Arizona for the 2023-24 season, and Bryant played his lone year in college for Arizona in 2024-25.
In last year’s NBA draft, Bryant was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 14th overall pick.
Johnson went undrafted but was almost immediately picked up by the Miami Heat on a two-way contract, joining another former Wildcat in Pelle Larsson in Miami.
Johnson and Bryant add to the list of former Wildcats to participate in the dunk contest, putting the overall total at six players and an overall total of appearances at eight.
Aaron Gordon was the last Wildcat to participate in 2020. He has also previously participated in the 2016 and 2017 competitions.
The first former Arizona player to participate was Richard Jefferson in 2003. In between Gordon and Jefferson were Andre Iguodala in 2006 and Chase Budinger in 2012.
Gordon, Iguodala, and Budinger all had second place finishes, with Gordon being the only former Arizona player to have two second place finishes.
If Johnson or Byrant were to win the competition, they would be the first former Wildcat to win the NBA dunk contest.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 05: Bub Carrington #7 of the Washington Wizards looks on against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena on February 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Now we move. The NBA trading deadline came and went, and the Nets roster is looking a bit different. Two new players – Ochai Agbaji and Josh Minott – might make their debut and everyone else is healthy. The opponent tonight is resting about half their roster after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the season. The Washington Wizards were on the road t0 face the Eastern Conference leading Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. Washington surprised everyone and came away with a 126-117 victory.
INJURIES
All clear on the injury front for Brooklyn. Again, all clear.
However, the other tanking team has nearly half their players in street clothes. The following are out:
Anthony Davis
Dante Exum
Jaden Hardy
Tre Johnson
D’Angelo Russell
Cam Whitmore
Trae Young
Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bilal Coulibaly are all questionable. So is the league policy on tanking and injuries, but that’s another day.
DISCUSSION
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Quadir Copeland and Paul McNeil Jr. combined for 42 points and N.C. State beat Virginia Tech 82-73 on Saturday.
Copeland and McNeil had 21 each, with Copeland notching a 10-assist double-double to go with five steals, tying his career high. It's the fourth time this season Copeland has had 10-plus assists, and his second straight double-double after registering zero before this week. He had 16 assists and 10 rebounds against SMU on Tuesday.
Copeland was 7 of 11 from the floor and 7 of 10 at the line, crossing the 1,000-point career mark early in the second half. McNeil was 4 of 7 from behind the arc and 7 of 8 at the stripe.
Tre Holloman added 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Ven-Allen Lubin added 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Wolfpack (18-6, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) took a 36-24 lead into the break after an 11-0 run late in the half. The Hokies (16-8, 5-6) used a 12-2 second-half run to cut the deficit to three with 11:20 left, but the Wolfpack answered immediately with a 10-1 run. It was never closer than an eight-point margin from that point on.
Amani Hansberry led the Hokies with 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Tobi Lawal had 17 points and 15 rebounds. Neoklis Avdalas scored 14.
Up next
The Hokies will remain on the road, facing No. 20 Clemson on Wednesday.
The Wolfpack will face No. 24 Louisville on the road on Monday.
